Parachute safety device



Oct. 3, 1933. w ROLKERR 1,929,005

PARACHUTE SAFETY DEVICE Filed Oct. 20, 1930 30 INVENTOR.

m. 10 G: RoL/rER K.

BY Co.

A TTORN E YS.

Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES P.A'TENT "OFFICE PARACHUTE SAFETY-nrrvloa Waid G. Rolkerr, oaklanaeaiir. 7 Application October '20, 19 30.serial Nb. 490,002 I V 8Claims. '(Cl;-'244- --21)1--. I

My invention relates to improvements in parachute safety devices, and itconsists in the. combinations, constructions and'arrangementshereinafter described. l g

,5 An object of my invention isto provide a para! chute safety devicewhich. makes use of fluid means, such as. air, for positively ejectingthe par achute from its container, and which further. makes use of asecond fluid means such as gas for inflating the two walls-of theparachute, thus causing it to positively open because of this fluidpressure, the gas chute buoyant I The container housing thechute isdisposed at a portion of the airplanepref erably at the rear of.the'fuselage with its open end terminating at the rear edges of therigid portions of the elevators and rudders soi that the forcing of thechute from the container will instantly free it} from all obstructionson the airplane; I'nthe present/form of the invention I have shown theparachute as ;-being-large enough to support an airplane, and it shouldalso be kept in mind that the parachute is adapted for individual use.

the claims hereto annexed.

M invention is illustrated inthe accompanying I of the container 1 andcommunicates with a lift- 85- drawing in which: I

Figure 1 is a perspective -.view of. an airplane showing my deviceoperatively applied thereto,

Figure MS a vertical section through the para- V chute is to be used;the pilot opens the'valve 22 either by means, of a handle 23 ora'remote' con- 90.: I

chute shown in open position,

- of the device, and g r Figure 4 a second schematic view of a part ofthe device. V y In carrying'out my invention Iprovidea .tuhularcontainer 1 having an open end 2 and a closed end 3 (see Figure 3) Thecontainer in the form of the deviceillustrated in Figure 1 is secured tothe top'rear portion of a fuselage 4 ofan airplane indicated generallyat 5. The peniend of the container 1 is disposed adjacentto the rearedges of the rigid portions 6 of the elevators and rudders 7. Aparachute indicatedfgenerally at 8 and described in detail hereinafteris placed withinthe container 1 and has its shroud lines 9 connected toarope 10 which extends along the outside-of the container 1 as shown inFigure 1 and hasits other endconnected at 11-;to the center of'theairplane 5 by means of supporting strands 12 or other suitablesupporting means.

I will now describe the construction of the paraalso aiding in makingthe para-.

, ...Other objects and advantages will appear as the. specificationproceeds,-and the novel features of the. device will 'beparticularlypointed out in Figure 3 is a schematic view partly insectionchute'8. 'I'heumbrella portion 13 of the. parachute is in theformfof an envelope and has an outer wall 14 offabric and an inner wall15 of fabric. The marginal edges of the outer end of the inner walls 14and 15 are'secured together as at. 16 for forming a fluid-tight seal.Elastic strands l7 connect the walls 14 and 15 and permit thecollapsingQof the walls in order to aid in the folding of the parachutebut prevent the walls from moving away from each otherbeyond'predetermined limits. In this way the shape ofthe umbrella.portion 13 is maintained even when infiated with a lifting gas ,suchflashydrogen or the like. K l

cloth which, leak-proof andj the lower. wall 15 has its centralportionformed into a flexible tube 18 through which the gas is forced.In assembling the parachute within the container 1, the

fiexibl evtube 18 has its open end removably secured to a tube 19'preferably. made of. metal,

The flexible tube then extends the'l'eng'th of the ing gas disposedin. agastank21... A valve 22 disposed in ,the ,pipe 19 normally keeps the gaswithin the tank' 21. Howevergwhenthe para- V will slide of! from thetube 19. A rubber band 24 or other suitable means is disposed around thefree endof the tube 18, and this band immediately closes the .open endof the tubewhen the latter leaves. the tube 19. In this way. the gas istrapped in the envelope 13 and the tube 18.

The gas hasconsiderable pressure, and therefore enters the envelope 13with considerable force. Inorderto prevent the gas from rupturingthewall 14, I provide aconical-shaped The walls14 15 are preferablyl madeof 70 cone 25 is flexible, it will not interfere with the packing of theparachute. If 1 desired, a reinforcing pi'ece27 may be secured totheouter wall 14, and a pilot chute 28 is secured to the center of thereinforcing piece 2'7.

I will now describe the means for positively ejecting the parachute fromthe container-1. The container 1 carries a second pipe 29'which is preferably connected to a tank 30 containing'c'ompressed air or other fluid.A valve 31 when opened permits the compressed air in the tank 30 toissue from the open end of the pipe 29. In-packing the parachute, it is,disposed around the pipes 19 and 29' solthatthe closed 'endof theumbrella portion 13 is disposed "at the open end of the pipe 29. Thevalve '31' is opened at the same time as the valve 22,;and the,compressed air-willflow into theinterior otthe parachute and willpositively eject it from the container 1 with sufficient force anddirection to clear it from any obstructions on the airplane. It isobvious that the valve 31 may be remotely controlled if desired. i

In order to aidinlthe' packing of. the parachute within the container 1,I provide a paper bag 32 (see Figure 3) which is preferably perforatedas at 33. This bag is'in'reality a piece of paper having a width equalto the length of the container I, this paper being wrapped aroundtheparachute-when in folded position 'andhaving a folded end whichwillpermit the paper to be inserted intoithecontainer 1 like a cartridgeand", 40 I to carry theparachute. therewith. The pilot chute28 isdisposed atthe o'utside'of the paper bag and at the open end 2 of thecontainer 1. The cable lqconnected to the parachute extends from theinnericlosedendB of thecontainer 1 U, along the iimer wall of thecontainer to the open end 2' and then along the outside of the containeras shown in Figure ,1 to the place where it is connected to thesupporting means 12.

From theforegoing description of the various parts of the devicetheoperation thereofmay be pressure to their respective pipes for ejectingthe readilyunderstood'.

j The parachute remains within the container until needed, and isreadyforinstant use upon theopening of the valves 22 and 31. These valves aare opened simultaneously, and the gas is filling the" envelope l3vatfthe same time that the compressed air is forcing the chute fromthefcon- 'tainerlwithsufllcient force and"direction.,to

clear'itlfrom anyobstructions on the airplane.

All'oi' the gas hasentered the envelope 14 before the tube 18 becomesdisconnected from the tube 19. The tube 18 is then automatically sealedby the restricting member 24 and the gas is con,- flned within theenvelope 13. The paper 32 is loosely wrapped around'the parachute andwill.

instantlyfallaway' from the chute after the lat ter has beenfreed fromthe container 1, ,The

shroud lines and thecable 10 are pulledfrom thecontai'ner 1 after theumbrella-shaped por tion 13 leavesthe, container. The gas within the:

envelope positively opens .it', and its buoyant quality will aid indirecting the parachute upwardly so as to immediately become effectivein supportingthe load of the airplane.

"As already stated, the device maybe usedfor pilots, :andin' this casethe tanks 21 and 30 are withinthe envelope l3 from forcing the walls 14and 15 out of shape. It should be noted that thepipes l9 and 29 directthe gas and air to spec'iflc parts of the parachute in order to aid inthe quick expelling and opening of the chute.

' Although I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, itis to be understood that, the same is susceptible of various changes,and I reserve the right to employ such changes as may come Within thescope of the claims hereto annexed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a parachute having an inflatable umbrella shapedportion with a flexible tubing leading thereto, a pipe for conveying afluid to the umbrella-shaped portion, said flexible tubing beingremovably secured to the pipe, and means for closing the end of theflexible tubing when the tubing is pulled free of the pipe.

21 In combination,'a parachute container hav-, ing an open end, a gasconveying pipe and a compressed air conveying pipe terminating withinthe container, a parachute disposed within the container and around thepipes and having an inflatable portion in communication with the gaspipe by a tube enclosing the pipe, manually controlled means fordirecting gas and air under moved fromthe gas pipe.

3. In combination, a parachute container having an open end, a gasconveying pipe and a compressed air conveying pipe terminating withinthe container, a parachute disposed within the container and around thepipes and having an inflatable portion in communication with the gaspipe by a tube enclosing'the pipe, manually controlled meansfordirecting gas and air under parachute fromthe container and forinflating the parachute, means for automatically closing the end of thetube when it is removed from the gas pipe, and a paper disposed'aroundthe para-' chute and withinthe container for aiding in packing theparachute in the container, said paper dropping off from the parachuteas the latter is ejected from the container.

'4. 'A parachute having an inflatable umbrella, shaped portion with afluid inlet tube leading thereto, said umbrella-shaped portioncomprising two walls having the circumferences secured together, and aflexible cone-shaped baftle disposed at the outlet end of the tube, saidcone having openings in' its wall for directing a gas laterally into theinflatable portion.

5. A'parach'ute having an inflatable umbrellashaped portion with a fluidinlet tube leading thereto, said umbrella-shaped portion comprising twowalls having the circumferences secured together, a flexible cone-shapedbaffie disposed at the outlet endof the tube, said cone havingopeningsin its wall for directing agas laterally into the inflatableportion, and flexible strands disposed between the two walls forlimiting the movement of the two walls away from each other.

6. In a parachute safety device, a tubular member for conveying a fluid,a flexible tube communicating with a compartment in a parachute andhaving its free end removably secured to the tube, the means used forconnecting the two tubes together also closing the flexible tube whe thetubes are disconnected.

7. A parachute safety device comprising a container having an open end,a parachute having a fluid receiving compartment and being folded into acompact bundle and wrapped in paper and inserted into the container, anair conveying pipe extending into the container and having its open endterminating near the top of the folded parachute, the parachutesurrounding the pipe, and

a gas conveying pipe communicating with the parachute compartment.

8. A parachute safety device comprising a container having an open end,a parachute having a fluid receiving compartment and being folded into acompact bundle and wrapped in paper and inserted into the container, anair conveying pipe extending into the container and having its open endterminating near the top of the folded parachute, the parachutesurrounding the pipe, and a gas conveying pipe communicating with theparachute compartment, means for delivering air and gas under pressureto said pipes for expelling the. parachute from the container, and forinflating the compartment.

' WAID G. ROI-KERR.

